My daughter is involved in a bit of sport and a newsletter the other day sparked some flashbacks.
It was talking about billeting. While I’m new to living in Sydney, my first trip was when I was 11. Yes cynics, that was some time ago now.
I was touring with our city’s under 12 cricket team. We had just left Maitland where my batting partner had hit the jackpot, chosen to stay with Australian test player Robert “Dutchie” Holland, whose son was in the opposing team.
Next stop: Hornsby. Lining up for a billet is a bit like waiting to see which captain points at you when picking teams at school. In the back of your mind you know there’ll be a good team and a crap team. “Oh please don’t pick me for the crap team.”
But on this particular tour, Hornsby was the important one. It was the part of the trip where we would be given a day off. There would be nothing worse than being kennelled up playing Atari or Commodore 64 all day.
Backyard cricket would be okay. Maybe they’d have a spare bike. A swimming pool would be a bonus.
But I remember my day off like it was yesterday. I sincerely wish I remember the people’s names so I could throw in a phone call almost 30 years down the track to thank them. They introduced me to the Sydney Opera House, Taronga Park Zoo and the Harbour.
Whoever you are, you are probably unaware that you have provided someone with some long-lasting fond memories.
It was in some contrast to the billet I once received in Rockhampton. There were two brothers – a sort of Abbott and Costello arrangement. A small, skinny fellow with freckles, and a large – very large – boy. Apparently one of them was adopted.
I recall our first night’s dinner came wrapped in butcher’s paper. Fish and chips, you ask? Well, it would have been had there been some fish.
Abbott’s mother had given him $3 to run down the shop and buy some hot chips. And yep, that’s what he got. In those days, $3 bought a lot of chips. He’d almost have needed a wheelbarrow to bring them back to the house, although I think he might have eaten a few on the way.
They were an odd family, but if I recall rightly – at least they had a spare bike!
To all those in the girls’ state primary school cricket carnival at Castle Hill next week, good luck. And I’m not talking about the game.
Have you had a billeting experience? Share it below.
